Joe Gibson dives in the endzone for one his 2 TDs last week. Gibson and the rest of the Crusaders will need to duplicate the performance they had in Round 2 of the 8A playoffs if they hope to get by Lincoln-Way East.View more photos from this game & others

Crusaders Face Griffins Again

By: Brian Snow

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The Lincoln-Way East Griffins and the Brother Rice Crusaders will meet for the third time in four years in the IHSA Class 8A State Playoffs. The other two meetings took place on the road in New Lenox. in 2002, the Crusaders were throttled 40-7 as the Griffs scored the last 40 points after giving up the first touchdown of the game. In 2004, the Griffins scored a 26-20 comeback overtime win over the Crusaders.

This time the Griffins have to come to the Stadium. The one characteristic that has defined the Crusaders this year is their overcoming of adversity. They have battled through injuries and have still compiled a 9-2 record. Though the Griffins come in at 11-0 and were last year's Cinderella team in the state playoffs, the Crusaders have assumed that roll and continue to surprise. It should be a wonderful game at Gary Little Stadium.